One of the First Safe and Sound Bridges in MoDOTís Plan Reopens in the Southeast District

The Missouri Department of Transportation is celebrating the reopening of the first four Safe and Sound Bridges this week. MoDOT's mission is to fix 802 of the state's worst bridges within five years.

Hominy Creek Bridge over Route AA in Polk County was the first bridge completed through the Safe and Sound program. Route F Wolf Creek Bridge in St. Francois County reopened this week. Ten Mile Creek Bridge on Route TT in Butler County and Eleven Point River Bridge on Route 17 in Howell County will be complete this week as well.

"We began work on the bridges in Southeast Missouri as soon as possible because Missourians simply deserve better bridges," said District Engineer Mark Shelton.

The bridge in St. Francois County, which had been closed for repairs since March 9, was reopened on April 20¾ahead of schedule.

"This bridge is a good example of MoDOT working to deliver on our promises, and then exceeding those expectations," said Shelton.

Ten Mile Creek Bridge in Butler County will reopen to traffic Friday, April 24 ¾ahead of schedule. This is the second bridge to be completed through the Safe and Sound program in the Southeast District.

"I want to thank Southeast Missourians for their patience while improvements were being made to these bridges," said Shelton. "MoDOT and the contractors worked to get the projects underway and completed as quickly as possible."

In MoDOT's statewide plan, there are 248 rehabilitation projects being delivered through the normal bidding process, with 109 under contract by June. Work on the remaining 139 bridges will be spread out over the next four years. Additionally, the Commission expects to select a team in May to award a single design-build contract for a package of 554 bridge replacements. Some of those bridges will be under construction this year, too. Most bridges will be closed to speed construction and reduce cost.

There are 10,249 bridges on Missouri's state highway system, the seventh largest total in the nation. The Safe & Sound initiative will address many of these bridges. All 802 bridges will be complete by Oct. 31, 2014. The total cost of the program is estimated at $700 million.